FCTA engages traditional leaders over Illegal expansion of local communities

The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it was engaging traditional leaders of various Chiefdoms within the Territory to stop the worrying trend of illegal expansion of local communities.

The Administration said the renewed massive demolition of illegal structures in some of the communities along the Airport road, was because some residents were embarking on illegal expansion of the areas by selling land without government’s approval.

It decried the rate at which some communities on that road axis were expanding, with local Chiefs still selling land illegally to people to build without government’s approval.

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr Ikharo Attah who disclosed this during an interactive meeting with traditional and other community leaders from over 10 villages, said Zamani village, where illegal structures have been marked for demolition, is one of the places where some residents have disregarded government’s warning to embark on unapproved expansion.

The Aide to the Minister while expressing displeasure that residents were forcing government to spend scarce resources on demolition exercise, also vowed that enforcement of orders will not abate until environmental sanity was restored to all parts of the territory.

He equally noted that FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello was determined to routing out all the illegalities, having warned local Chiefs who illegally sell land, as well as those buying and developing such land.

Read also:Insecurity: FCTA demolishes over 350 illegal structures near Abuja Airport

Attah while reiterating that the houses of the indigenous people located within the approved areas won’t be demolished, said that all the structures on the illegal expansion would be pulled down.

He explained that the essence of holding meetings with traditional and community leaders of the affected places, was to ensure proper sensitization, as well as galvanize support.

He further warned people who have continued with the habit of buying and building of houses illegally in any part of Abuja.

According to him, such practices amount to a collosal waste of resources, and also very tragic to economic growth.

Also Speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Community Relation, Ishaku Yamawo, called on the various community leaders to desist from all negative activities that will attract punitive measures from government.

Yamawo also assured the leaders that indigenous peoples houses would not be affected in the demolition exercise.

According to him, the administration was working on modalities of providing more basic amenities in the communities, but needs the cooperation of the residents.

Emmanuel Ukoh